Thesaurus: spire

Related headwords

Definitions

1. v. i. To breathe.
2. n. A slender stalk or blade in vegetation; as, a spire grass or of wheat.
3. n. A tapering body that shoots up or out to a point in a conical or pyramidal form. Specifically (Arch.), the roof of a tower when of a pyramidal form and high in proportion to its width; also, the pyramidal or aspiring termination of a tower which can not be said to have a roof, such as that of Strasburg cathedral; the tapering part of a steeple, or the steeple itself.
4. n. A tube or fuse for communicating fire to the chargen in blasting.
5. n. The top, or uppermost point, of anything; the summit.
6. v. i. To shoot forth, or up in, or as if in, a spire.
7. n. A spiral; a curl; a whorl; a twist.
8. n. The part of a spiral generated in one revolution of the straight line about the pole. See Spiral, n.
9. n. a tall tower that forms the superstructure of a building (usually a church or temple) and that tapers to a point at the top
10. To breathe. [Obs.] Shenstone. 1. A slender stalk or blade in vegetation; as, a spire grass or of wheat. An oak cometh up a little spire. Chaucer. 2. A tapering body that shoots up or out to a point in a conical or pyramidal form. Specifically (Arch.), the roof of a tower when of a pyramidal form and high in proportion to its width; also, the pyramidal or aspiring termination of a tower which can not be said to have a roof, such as that of Strasburg cathedral; the tapering part of a steeple, or the steeple itself. "With glistering spires and pinnacles adorned." Milton. A spire of land that stand apart, Cleft from the main. Tennyson. Tall spire from which the sound of cheerful bells Just undulates upon the listening ear. Cowper. 3. (Mining) A tube or fuse for communicating fire to the chargen in blasting. 4. The top, or uppermost point, of anything; the summit. The spire and top of praises. Shak. To shoot forth, or up in, or as if in, a spire. Emerson. It is not so apt to spire up as the other sorts, being more inclined to branch into arms. Mortimer. 1. A spiral; a curl; a whorl; a twist. Dryden. 2. (Geom.) The part of a spiral generated in one revolution of the straight line about the pole. See Spiral, n. Spire bearer. (Paleon.) Same as Spirifer.
11. To breathe. [Obs.] Shenstone.
12. n:100 n a tall tower that forms the superstructure of a building (usually a church or temple) and that tapers to a point at the top